Meet OU-riginal, Montelle Bee, founder of Brand Your Influence
On 25th May, the OU will be taking part in an exciting social experiment with BBC Radio 1 presenter, Gemma Cairney, stream live via YouTube.
Gemma will be tasked with sitting at the helm of a fictional business for the day, faced with a series of business challenges that she will have to overcome with some specialist advice from our alumni, academics, and students – known as our ‘OU-riginals’.
Ahead of this, we are launching an interview series on some of those ‘OU-riginals’ who will be helping Gemma out with the challenge on the day….
I’m Montelle Bee, a 26-year old based in Leeds, UK. I am a digital entrepreneur and business mentor. I launched Brand Your Influence, an online hub to help creative entrepreneurs clarify their brand by uncovering their unique stories and building an online business. I’ve helped hundreds of creative entrepreneurs to launch and grow their personal brands. My services include 1:1 coaching, workshops and digital products. My ideal clients are creative entrepreneurs (coaches + service-based biz), who want to learn how to build a personal brand that they can monetise and create global impact.
What problem are you solving for your clients?
The clients I serve have three major desires - business, creativity and freedom. However, many of them have the limiting beliefs that they cannot have it all. I help my clients to identify how they can infuse all three aspects into their lives by creating a powerful personal brand. Once they have mastered their influence, I then support them with creating digital products so they can live the freedom-based lifestyle they desire.
What's the most important business decision you've made to date and how has it impacted your business?
The most important business decision I’ve made is investing back into my business! For the first couple of years, I reinvested the majority of my earnings into hiring top business mentors, outsourcing tasks and upgrading my systems. As a new business owner, it can be difficult to part with so much of your income (especially when funds are low). However, it’s essential for building longevity. I’ve always believed that time is our most valuable asset, and the money will also return. Making the following investments into my business took out a lot of the “guesswork”, and I leveraged other people's expertise for better results. It also allowed me to remain within my own zone of genius (coaching and content creating), so my business feels fun and aligned.
What would be your top marketing tip for a business owner growing a niche business?
My top marketing tip would definitely be to speak with your target customers regularly. Use your online platforms to create meaningful conversations that will not only engage your customers but also give you critical feedback. Building relationships on social media has become easier than ever with many apps having features such as polls, quizzes and stories. The human approach to marketing will allow you to break down any barriers and stay on top of your customer's needs.
Do you prioritise self-care as an entrepreneur?
Yes, I believe that integrating self-care into the work day is essential for mental stability and overall success. Many people confuse self-care with candle-lit baths and beauty treatments. And whilst those treatments are nice, it’s so much more than that! Self-care is prioritising your well-being through rest, hydrating, eating nourishing foods, exercising and so on. I’ve personally experienced burn-out which lasted for over 3 months! And I can assure you, no amount of candle-lit baths helped me to recover. Burn-out is mental exhaustion that requires a holistic approach to heal. Now my biggest fear is it happening again, so I am sure to maintain daily self-care practices (both physically and mentally).
How has your Psychology course with The Open University added value to your business?
My psychology degree has been extremely valuable for allowing me to understand human behaviour. Because after all, marketing is about understanding what makes an individual take the desired action (i.e buy your products!). Whilst my course isn’t specific to business development, many of the teachings can be applied to my business. It’s become very enjoyable for me to connect the dots between the subjects, which has definitely boosted my creative outlook on psychological concepts. Throughout my degree, I’ve also evolved my leadership skills as distance studying requires a lot of independence. Although we are fully supported by our tutors, I make an effort not to contact my tutor until absolutely necessary. This has strengthened both my critical thinking and decision making skills to make better choices in my business.
Unlock Your Inner Boss LIVE! The CEO Challenge
Gemma will go live on the hour, every hour between 11am and 4pm at the OU library on campus, tackling a series of lively tasks that cover the below. She will also need YOUR help as the viewers, voting live to help steer her decisions through the day.
11am Street Smart: Understanding customers and the market
12pm Making The Case for Your Business: Putting together an effective business plan
1pm: My Way or The Hire Way: Hiring and managing
2pm: The Profit Is Right! Making a business profitable and having adequate finances
3pm: Leadership Leveller: Mindset and leadership
4pm: Future Feats: Staying ahead with technology
The livestream forms part of the OU’s new Skills campaign, bringing to life the values, expertise and skills that the OU has to offer in a world where people are increasingly veering away from traditional career routes. Tune in to contribute, and benefit from advice and insight from our ‘OU-riginals’, plus an exciting free collection of resources for livestream viewers… don’t miss it!
To join the livestream and follow Gemma throughout her inspirational challenge tune in to YouTube or keep an eye out here on 25th May.
